What does properly mean?

properly means "in the right manner; correctly; suitably". That is the primary sense; the word has 3 in total, listed in full on this page.

How many syllables are in properly?

properly has 3 syllables: pro-per-ly. The stress falls on "pro". In IPA it is /ˈpɹɑpɚli/.

What is another word for properly?

Close synonyms include decently, decent, right, precisely, exactly. Each sense on this page lists its own synonyms, because a word with several meanings rarely has one substitute that works for all of them.

What is the opposite of properly?

The recorded antonyms are improperly.

Is properly a common word?

properly is banded "Common" — everyday vocabulary in speech and writing. The band comes from how often the word appears in a large corpus of everyday English, not from an editor's impression.

What rhymes with properly?

1 word rhymes with properly. Rhymes are matched on the phonemes from the last stressed vowel onward, which is the definition a reader has in their head.

properly — meaning, pronunciation and 3 definitions

adverb

3 sensesA word that modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb.

1.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
“please do your job properly!”
“can't you carry me decent?”
Synonymsdecently decent right
Antonymsimproperly
2.
indicating exactness or preciseness
“he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do”
“it was just as he said--the jewel was gone”
“it has just enough salt”
“Properly speaking, all true work is religion.”
Synonymsprecisely exactly just
3.
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
“he was appropriately dressed”
“If you don't behave properly, you'll have to leave!”
“I met the junior senator from Illinois and I was duly impressed”
Synonymsappropriately suitably fittingly befittingly fitly duly

Questions about properly

What does properly mean?: properly means "in the right manner; correctly; suitably". That is the primary sense; the word has 3 in total, listed in full on this page.
How many syllables are in properly?: properly has 3 syllables: pro-per-ly. The stress falls on "pro". In IPA it is /ˈpɹɑpɚli/.
What is another word for properly?: Close synonyms include decently, decent, right, precisely, exactly. Each sense on this page lists its own synonyms, because a word with several meanings rarely has one substitute that works for all of them.
What is the opposite of properly?: The recorded antonyms are improperly.
Is properly a common word?: properly is banded "Common" — everyday vocabulary in speech and writing. The band comes from how often the word appears in a large corpus of everyday English, not from an editor's impression.
What rhymes with properly?: 1 word rhymes with properly. Rhymes are matched on the phonemes from the last stressed vowel onward, which is the definition a reader has in their head.

Definitions, synonyms and semantic relations for properly come from Princeton University’s WordNet. The pronunciation comes from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Commonness is measured against a corpus of everyday English. Full sources and licences.

adverb

3 sensesA word that modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb.

1.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
“please do your job properly!”
“can't you carry me decent?”
Synonymsdecently decent right
Antonymsimproperly
2.
indicating exactness or preciseness
“he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do”
“it was just as he said--the jewel was gone”
“it has just enough salt”
“Properly speaking, all true work is religion.”
Synonymsprecisely exactly just
3.
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
“he was appropriately dressed”
“If you don't behave properly, you'll have to leave!”
“I met the junior senator from Illinois and I was duly impressed”
Synonymsappropriately suitably fittingly befittingly fitly duly

Questions about properly

What does properly mean?: properly means "in the right manner; correctly; suitably". That is the primary sense; the word has 3 in total, listed in full on this page.
How many syllables are in properly?: properly has 3 syllables: pro-per-ly. The stress falls on "pro". In IPA it is /ˈpɹɑpɚli/.
What is another word for properly?: Close synonyms include decently, decent, right, precisely, exactly. Each sense on this page lists its own synonyms, because a word with several meanings rarely has one substitute that works for all of them.
What is the opposite of properly?: The recorded antonyms are improperly.
Is properly a common word?: properly is banded "Common" — everyday vocabulary in speech and writing. The band comes from how often the word appears in a large corpus of everyday English, not from an editor's impression.
What rhymes with properly?: 1 word rhymes with properly. Rhymes are matched on the phonemes from the last stressed vowel onward, which is the definition a reader has in their head.

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